Bicol: A total of 4,054 minimum wage earners in the Bicol region have benefited from the Benteng Bigas Meron Na Program, implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) since June 13. The program, initiated by the Marcos administration, aims to provide affordable rice to the nation’s workforce, enhancing food security and sustainability.

According to Philippines News Agency, DOLE-5 Director Imelda Gatinao emphasized the program’s focus on meeting the essential needs of minimum wage earners and the vulnerable sector by offering high-quality rice at a subsidized rate of PHP20 per kilo. The initiative is designed to support national goals for food security and social equity, while ensuring that farmers have a steady market for their produce.

In a press conference, Gatinao highlighted the program’s impact on strengthening the farm-to-market supply chain, which guarantees that farmers’ produce will be consistently purchased. The program has reached various provinces in Bicol, with 516 workers in Albay, 835 in Camarines Norte, 1,240 in Camarines Sur, 419 in Catanduanes, 89 in Masbate, and 955 in Sorsogon availing themselves of the subsidized rice.